Gjon as a given name is a form of the English name John.[1] It is the name of the apostle Saint John in Albanian (Albanian: Shën Gjon).[2] Most saint names in Albanian come from Latin;[3] John is from the LatinIohannes, the Latin form of the GreekIoannes (Ἰωάννης), derived from the Hebrew name Yohanan (יוֹחָנָן), meaning "God is gracious".[4] Both theologists and linguists are unsure about the relationship of the name Gjon to Gjin—the Catholic clergy considers the two to be the same saint, but the Christians of the Central Albanian Shpati region (who are Orthodox)[5] revere Gjin and Gjon as separate saints, while linguists are unsure about the etymology of Gjin and whether or not it shares its origin with Gjon.[6]
In the Middle Ages the name Gjon was very widespread in all Albanian regions. Until lately it was also prevalent among Arvanites in Greece[7]
The name Gjon is also mentioned in the afterword of Gjon Buzuku's 1555 book, Meshari, where the author introduces himself to the reader as "Unë, dom Gjoni, biri i Bdek Buzukut" ("I, don Gjoni, son of Bdek Buzuku").[8]
Gjoni or Gjonaj is a common Albanian last name, from the given name Gjon. The names Joni and Jonima also have the same source, and the latter (under the modern Albanian form Gjonima) being the surname of members of the Jonima family.[11] The Serbian language family name Đonović is derived from the first name Gjon[12] which means that it is of Albanian origin.[13]
Gjon, due to historic naming of places after the saint, became an element in Albanian toponyms, contributing to the formation of placenames such Shijon, Shinjan, Gjonm and Gjorm, the difference between the latter two demonstrating Toskrhoticism.[16]
^Riska, Albert (2013). "The Christian Saints in the (Micro)toponymy of Albania". Anglisticum Journal (IJLLIS) vol 2 issue 3. Pages 167–176. page 168: "Almost all the Saints’ names in Albanian have arrived from the Latin, and comparing the present form of the name (as found in the toponym) with the Latin form, can identify the changes that the word has gone through during its usage in Albanian. "
^Pistrick, Eckehard and Dalipaj, Gerda. "Celebrating the Imagined Village: Ways of Organizing and Commenting Local Soundscapes and Social Patterns in South Albanian Feasts". Page 164
^Frashëri, Kristo (2009). Skënderbeu i shpërfytyruar nga një historian zviceran dhe disa analistë shqiptarë (in Albanian). Tirana: Dudaj. p. 85. ISBN978-99943-0-109-6. Emri Gjon ishte aq tepër i përhapur në mbarë trevat shqiptare sa atë e morën me vete dhe banorët e viseve të jugut, të cilët gjatë shek. XIV dhe XV mërguan në viset e Greqisë kontinentale dhe ishullore. Emrin Gjon e mbanin deri vonë, ndoshta edhe sot, arvanitët si për shembull në ishullin Hidra
^Frashëri, Kristo (2009). Skënderbeu i shpërfytyruar nga një historian zviceran dhe disa analistë shqiptarë (in Albanian). Tirana: Dudaj. p. 87. ISBN978-99943-0-109-6.
^Studia Albanica. L'Institut. 1989. p. 127. ...des noms de familles, comme Djonovic ( Gjon),...
^(Pantelić 1998, p. 57): "Свакако су арбанашког порекла и лична имена Црногораца Ђоно, Ђин, Мараш (можда и Лека и Ђека), као и презимена Ђоновић, Ђиновић, Зоговић, Зоњић."
^Zoto, Vladimir (2005). Fjalor Emrash. Faqe 174: "Joni, një formë e përdorur në mesjetë në viset veriore të vendit, ka dhënë trajtën Jonima, e përdorur shumë si mbiemer nga arbëreshët e Italisë në atë periudhë"
^Studia Albanica. L'Institut. 1989. p. 127. ...des noms de familles, comme Djonovic ( Gjon),...
^(Pantelić 1998, p. 57): "Свакако су арбанашког порекла и лична имена Црногораца Ђоно, Ђин, Мараш (можда и Лека и Ђека), као и презимена Ђоновић, Ђиновић, Зоговић, Зоњић."
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